Description
A hearty, meaty, cheesy slow‑cooker spaghetti that’s easy to prep—just brown the beef, combine ingredients in your crockpot, and let it do the work for a comforting dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound standard spaghetti noodles, broken in half
- 48 ounces (2 24‑ounce jars) tomato & basil marinara sauce
- 15 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken broth, divided
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium‑high heat, add the olive oil, lean ground beef, diced onion, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook and brown the beef until no pink remains; drain excess fat if needed.
- Add the cooked beef, broken spaghetti, marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, and 1 cup of chicken broth into the crockpot.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours or until the noodles are tender (watch carefully to avoid overcooking).
- Remove the lid, stir in the remaining 1 cup of chicken broth, then top with Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.
- Replace lid and cook for another 20–30 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
- Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Cook time: 2½ hours on HIGH (or 3½–4 hours on LOW).
- Yields approximately 8 servings (about 1 cup per serving).
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezing is not recommended—the noodles absorb too much sauce and texture changes upon thawing.
- Reheat individual portions in the microwave for about 1–1½ minutes, or per your microwave’s instructions.
- Serve immediately—noodles continue absorbing liquid and get softer the longer they sit.
- Substitute water for chicken broth if needed; low‑sodium broth works too.
- Add a pinch (¼ teaspoon) of red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
- “Pot‑sized” spaghetti noodles (e.g. Mueller’s) can be used without breaking—they fit well and reduce uneven pieces.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 461 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 1523 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 58 mg
